To ask how often you need to wash yourself to be clean?

[Goldencurtain]

I have a shower every other day but wouldn't admit that publicly because fear I would be shamed for being dirty. When my mum was growing up it was standard to have a bath once a week, no shame attached at all to that. Indeed it's probably only been fairly recently there has been an expectation of a daily/twice daily shower.

When did social attitudes start to change on what 'dirty' meant and what do you do?

The whole 1950s 'strip wash' thing cracks me up. Only on MN!

@icedpurple Why? It was how people washed back then. Houses often didn't have bathrooms inside, if they did they were often off the kitchen and used for laundry. Not having a water heater of any sort meant that hot water meant boiling the kettle on the stove or taking it in pans from the sink to the bath so you'd only have a small amount of water.

I’m ancient so can answer your question OP.

When I was born we lived in a flat which did not have an indoor toilet. The lavatory in the close was shared by the other ground floor tenants, so two families to one w.c. It was cold, darkish but immaculately clean. Toilet paper was called Izal (I think). Interleaved squares of hard transparent paper which was great to use as tracing paper but rough on the nether regions. We were relatively posh. Most working class people used newspaper cut into squares and threaded onto a circle of string.

Baths were weekly in a metal bath in front of the fire. Hot water was supplied by a kettle. Every morning and night we were washed at the kitchen sink with a soapy flannel. No idea what my parents did.

When I was 5 we moved into the first multi storey flats to be built in our city. We had a bathroom with bath and the constant hot water (including central heating) was included in the rent. Despite it not adding to the family bills we were still given a bath once a week. (Relatives who didn’t have a bath would visit with towels once a week for a few years)

As I got older, and certainly by puberty, I was having a bath or shower daily (dad installed a shower over the bath) but I can’t remember whether my parents did the same or whether they still washed all over using a facecloth between weekly baths.

So for me at least it was about 1960 when I started having a bath or shower every day.

I never understand these threads. Full of people pulling "boak" faces at the idea anyone showers less than they do or who washes in the "wrong" way.

Whatever happened to just acting according to your circumstance?

Sometimes I'll shower up to 4 times in one day (for example in the summer, when I go to the gym, and have a date night or event after work), but sometimes I'll only shower every other day. Personally I just shower according to as and when it's needed.

I'm not sure if I fall into the "disgusting" or "planet killer" camp.

Can't we just accept that everyone is different and not be so disparaging about that fact? Some people sweat buckets, some barely sweat. Some hair types need washing every day, others won't. Some will have heavy periods which necessitate washing every day, others will have very light periods which don't.

I have a pretty good sense of smell and based on my experience on packed commuter trains the vast majority of people don't smell so it seems most of us are getting it right regardless of whether we shower once an hour or once a week.

I shower everyday. Occasionally if I'm having a lazy weekend day then I might miss a day but feel gross and sluggish. I work in an office but walk to and from the station and get squished onto public transport with hundreds of other people. I had a crap day at work yesterday and showered when I came home as well - it made me feel better psychologically. I find strip washing a bit faffy and it's more efficient just to jump in the shower

Also disabled people are deemed able to wash themselves if they can wipe their body with wet wipes.

I shower every other day unless I have exercised. Dont feel dirty or grubby at all. I'm not a very sweaty person and dknt think it's fair to day that if you dont shower daily you will smell.

I generally have a shower or bath every morning. I feel grotty if I don’t have a wash at least once a day, but that could - in an emergency - be just a strip wash of pits and bits. I also looooove my bidet for a quick fanny splash, especially during my period.

I grew up in London in the 70s and my parents, and all our friends, had daily baths. My grandparents, who grew up in the 1910s, were also daily bathers.

I shower/bath most days, washing hair every other. Like another PP I can't wash my hair daily ( it doesn't like it!) however, it also isn't keen on me showering without washing it - ends up frizzy- so I usually then have to wear it up that day!

@Lockheart thank you. Well said.

Why? It was how people washed back then.

That's exactly my point! Back in the 1950s or even more recently, strip washes were the way to go. Now though, with modern plumbing, why would anyone be standing at a sink messing around with a flannel? They wouldn't. Only on MN!

I grew up in the 70s and the men in particular reeked.
The BO was eyewatering.
My DM insisted we had a full shower daily-one of those rubbery ones that fitted on the bath taps 😂
By the time you have flannel washed daily you might as well pop under the shower for 3 minutes.
Pretty basic self care tbh.
People who dont shower daily usually dont wear fresh clothes either -grim
Also the "bad for your skin" is nonsense , you need to remove pollutant ,no one is suggesting bathing in bleach .
Im a nurse, the worst skin is people who soap dodge !
Clouds of dry skin, fungal infections etc
I LOVE getting someone nice and clean and fresh, there is nothing like it.

As small children we had a bath weekly. On other days we washed. That means soap and a flannel under arms and around nethers.

I think too much washing is probably bad for the skin but there are parts of the body that need it more than others.Time of year is a factor as well.
I hate showers unless there is a heatwave. I bath every night and wash bits in the morning. Some nights I skip a bath, especially if my skin is extra dry.

I both every evening and wash every morning, i don't feel myself if I haven't had a proper wash

i don't feel myself if I haven't had a proper wash

You might consider rephrasing that...

Why? It was how people washed back then.

Only because they had no other choice.

We now live in houses with indoor plumbing, hot water, showers and baths. Why would you put yourself through a strip wash by the sink with a flannel when you can just jump in the shower for a couple of minutes?

Strip washes are just a faff. I had to have them for a while when our shower broke and it was just a pain. It took twice as long, you didn't feel as clean and you ended up with water all over the bathroom floor!

If everyone around you washed infrequently you would get used to it. The point is many people bathe daily so we are used to people smelling like products.

Personally I have a bath every night. I have bad lower back and pelvic pain and it eases a little bit but Ive always liked going to bed clean. I don't sleep in much so I don't overheat and I find I still smell fresh in the morning. In summer I shower in morning too

I can't imagine strip washing on your period.... I would feel very unclean

I shower or bathe daily. I couldn’t do it less because I need to be constantly clean shaven. I hate stubble, even the slightest regrowth irritates. My hair is black, thick and coarse. I shave everywhere and if not kept smooth, it feels like sand in my pants (tmi?) Also, I’m always in ‘the mood’, so need to be prepared and clean, just in case I get lucky with DH 😁

DH showers every morning (he needs to).

I shower every evening (I feel icky if I don’t).

DD6 has a bath every other night.

Now though, with modern plumbing, why would anyone be standing at
a sink messing around with a flannel? They wouldn't. Only on MN!

Right, yes, I agree. I thought you were doubting how it was done then.

I shower every day in the summer, every other day in the cooler weather. I don't smell and think that's plenty.

Now though, with modern plumbing, why would anyone be standing at
a sink messing around with a flannel?
Because they can’t afford to heat the water for a bath or shower.

Or they are on a water meter.

Iced Purple i find it easier to squeegee each time and use a showers spray as we have hard water.

A lot of houses didn't have indoor bathrooms and mil told me people had a strange attitude to indoor plumbing.

I remember dgm had a funny bath but no basin and a toilet next to the kitchen in a flat. She washed in the kitchen

As others had said there were inadequate water heating facilities and even with indoor plumbing the bath took ages to fill as the geyser was so inadequate.

@Quicklittlenamechange

I agree with everything that you have written especially the bit about basic self-care & "bad for your skin" is nonsense , you need to remove pollutant ,no one is suggesting bathing in bleach